English Poetry

London: William Pickering, 1851. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: OCLC records six copies (Harvard, State Library of South Australia, Queensland, BL, Cambridge & National Library of Scotland). An anonymous philosophical poem in 35 parts of three and four stanzas each, handsomely printed by Charles Whittingham for Pickering. Inscribed on the... More

London: Printed for A. Millar, 1744. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: Rothschild 56; Hayward 168. Armstrong (1709-1779 ) was a Scottish-born physician who published several poems and essays; this long poem in blank verse is by far his best-known work and went through numerous editions. The four parts are primarily... More

[N.p., circa 1828]. A jovial poem written by poet Bernard Barton (1784-1849) to his friend Charles Lamb on the occasion of his presenting Lamb with his recent book, A New Year's Eve and Other Poems (Hatchard, 1828): "My friend, I send thee here a book / on which I doubt... More

London: Printed and Sold by A. Millar, 1760. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: NCBEL II, 640. The first book by the Scottish poet and philosopher. Ink signature of Jas. French, dated 1764, on the title-page.More

London: Printed for M. Cooper, 1743. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: Rothschild 411; Hayward 166. The rare first edition of Blair’s famous and often re-printed work, the most notable edition of which was illustrated by William Blake. The Grave is one of the classic works of the “graveyard school” of... More

(Oxford: Daniel Press, 1893-94). Edition: First edition, numer 74 of 150 numbered copies. Bibliographical References: NCBEL III, 594. A substantial project by the Daniel Press, originally issued in five separate parts, Books I-V, in printed paper wrappers. The wrapper for Book One is bound in at the conclusion of the text.More

(Kent:) Printed at the Press of Lee Priory by Johnson and Warwick, 1814. Edition: First edition, one of 100 copies. Bibliographical References: NCBEL III, 1270; Lowndes volume 8, page 218. The first book of Brydges' poetry published at his famous private press, a collection of sixteen sonnets and four longer... More

London: Printed for John Murray by W. Bulmer, 1816. Edition: First edition, first issue. Bibliographical References: Randolph, page 56; NCBEL III, 282. Eleven poems by Byron, several of which are on departures and separations, including his famous “Fare thee well,” written to Lady Byron just after she had left him... More

London: Printed for John Murray, 1816. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: Tinker 551; NCBEL III, 281. Two poems: The Siege of Corinth, a tale of conflict between Christians and Muslims, and Parisina, the tale based on the story of Niccolo Ill d’Este and his wife Parisina.More

London: Printed for Fielding and Walker, 1778. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: Warren 5; NCBEL II, 606. 43 writings culled from Bristol and London newspapers, which constitute the first collection of Thomas Chatterton's "non-Rowlean" works. They were compiled by John Broughton of Bristol, who explains in the preface the rationale... More

London: Printed for Nathaniel Brook, 1662. Edition: Third edition, preceded by editions of 1659 and 1660. Bibliographical References: Wing C-4676; NCBEL I, 1305; ESTC R1323. Cleveland's major poems, with a preface by E. Williamson, elegies by other poets to Cleveland and the publication of several of his orations and essays... More

London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1698. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: Pforzheimer 193; Wing C-5845; NCBEL II, 751. A nine-page poem written to Charles Montague, Chancellor of the Exchequer. The outer margins of three leaves are trimmed closely, while the outer margins of the other three leaves are almost full... More

London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1695. Edition: Third edition. Bibliographical References: Wing C-5861; NCBEL II, 751; cf. Hayward 136A. Congreve's first separately published poem, an elegy on the death of Queen Mary, which went through three editions in 1695. Ink signature on the title page of Buchan, possibly the seventh... More

London: Printed by R. Cotes for Andrew Crooke, 1647. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: Wing C-6270 (1st edition); ESTC R22525; Hayward 90; NCBEL I, 1306. The rare first published work of Richard Corbet (1582-1635), bishop in the Church of England, who was known for his wit and his entertaining sermons... More

London: Printed for R. Dodsley and Sold by M. Cooper, 1744. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: ESTC T32861. In 1744, William Warburton made uncomplimentary comments about Mark Akenside's popular poem "The Pleasures of Imagination," published earlier the same year, and here that criticism is responded to by Akenside's friend Jeremiah... More

London: Hutchinson & Co., [1891-1897]. Edition: First edition, limited issue, number 45 of 110 numbered copies. Bibliographical References: Cited numerous times in NCBEL III under the individual poets. An exemplary poetical anthology, covering the whole of 19th century English poetry, more or less chronologically, from Crabbe, William Blake and the... More

London: Printed for the Author and Sold by R. & J. Dodsley, J. Newbery, etc., 1761. Edition: First edition. Bibliographical References: NCBEL II, 655; Eddy and Fleeman, Preliminary Handlist of Books to which Dr. Samuel Johnson Subscribed, 25. The first and only collected edition of the works of poet, translator... More